Fast-threading needls with trailing flexible link



Aug. 16, 1955 L. MARCOFF-MOGHADAM ETAL 2,

FAST-THREADING NEEDLE WITH TRAILINC FLEXIBLE LINK Filed NOV. 18, 1954ATTORNEY United States Patent FAST-THREADING NEEDLE WITH TRAILINGFLEXIBLE LINK Leon Marcolf-Moghadam and George N. Fedoroif, Washington,D. C.

Application November 18, 1954, Serial No. 469,696

3 Claims. (Cl. 223102) This invention relates to sewing implements andmore particularly to a needle which is provided with means to adapt theneedle for easy threading and for clampingly engaging the thread toprevent it from becoming disaligned during the sewing operation. Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of our copending applicationSerial No. 453,067, filed August 30, 1954.

Heretofore, there have been provided various devices designed for thequick and easy threading of a needle. Such devices included theprovision of a resilient wire which is passed through the eyelet of aneedle and which forms an enlarged loop for the reception of thread.Such devices permitted the ready threading of the needle through thisenlarged loop and this resilient loop contracted when it was passedthrough the material during the sewing operation. However, certaindisadvantages have been attendant with devices of this nature. It hasbeen found that the resilient wire does not maintain proper alignmentwith the needle and, in fact, this wire slips to a position wherein theeyelet is positioned along the length of the enlarged loop so that thedevice is rendered useless. Furthermore, it has been found that suchprior art devices did not possess satisfactory clamping means for thethread, particularly nylon thread. It can be seen, therefore, that thedifliculties encountered in connection with the use of the prior artdevices made such devices unsatisfactory for all practical purposes.

The present invention overcomes all of the difficulties mentioned aboveby providing a device which is easily constructed of resilient wire andprovides for the quick and easy threading of needles. According to thepresent invention there is provided a resilient wire having twisted endportions and an intermediate loop. One end is passed through the eyeletof a needle and forms, in effect, a pivotal connection between theneedle and the resilient wire so that the wire may swing freely withrespect to the needle. To thread the needle, thread is passed throughthe resilient loop and the thread is then grasped and pulled slightly sothat that portion of the thread within the loop engages the twisted endportion of the loop. The thread is thus clamped in position and will notbecome dislodged during the sewing operation. The twisted end portionadjacent the needle serves to retain the device in proper alignment withthe needle and yet permits the free swinging movement of the link whichis necessary for ease in sewing.

Thus, it can be seen that the instant invention provides an attachmentfor sewing needles which permits the user to easily thread the same andwhich also serves to clampingly engage the thread. Furthermore,according to the present invention modifications are possible whichpermit the ready disassembly of the attachment from a needle.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an attachmentfor a needle which permits the quick and easy threading of the needleand also serves to clampingly engage the thread to prevent dislodgmentthereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a resilient wireto be used in connection with needles which provides an enlarged loop sothat the needle may be easily threaded and which has a twisted endportion to securely engage thread.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide anattachment for a sewing needle which is connected to the needle for freeswinging movement but which is prevented from becoming misaligned withthe needle.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent upon consideration of the following anddetailed specification when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a needle with the instant inventionattached thereto and showing the thread in its initial position,

Fig. 2 is a partial view in elevation showing the thread clampinglyengaged,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the relationship of the needle andthe presently described attachment,

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a modification of the presentinvention,

Fig. 5 discloses another modification of the present invention, and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the presently described invention used inconnection with a so-called self-threading needle.

Referring now specifically to Fig. 1, there is shown at 1 a needle whichis of the usual construction having an eyelet 2. Through the eyelet ofthis needle is pas ed a resilient wire 3. This wire is highly resilientand is of the type known as music wire. Various sizes of this wire willbe used with the present invention depending upon the size of the needlebut for ordinary sewing purposes and for use with No. 7 needles mostconveniently this wire is of a diameter of .005 to .006 inch. As shown,the end portion of wire 3 is provided with a small loop 4 which passesthrough the eyelet 2. Adjacent loop 4 there is provided a plurality oftwists 5 in the strands of the wire which insure that the wire will notbecome misaligned with the needle while sewing. There is shown at 6 theenlarged loop which permits the needle to be easily threaded. Thestrands of the end portion of the wire 3 are provided with a pluralityof twists 7. A thread 8 is shown in the initial threading position whenpassed through loop 6.

In Fig. 2 thread 8 is shown in the final sewing position in which it isclampingly engaged by the twists 7 in the end portion of wire 3. It hasbeen found that for the most successful clamping of the thread thereshould be provided approximately 22 to 28 twists to the inch when usingwire of .005 inch diameter. If desired, the end portions of the wire maybe soldered or brazed but this procedure is not necessary for thesuccessful operation of the device.

In Fig. 3 is shown in section the attachment between the needle and thewire. It can be seen that the end portion 4 of the wire grips the needleso as to prevent misalignment of the wire with the needle and yetpermitting the swivelling action of the wire with respect to the needle.

In Fig. 4 is shown a modification of the present invention in which theneedle 9 is provided with an undercut end portion 10. Thus, the endportion 4 of the attachment will not increase the size of the needle andpermits the smooth passage of the needle through the material sewed.

Fig. 5 discloses a modified form of attachment in which the end portionof the wire is provided with twists 11 and hook shaped ends 12 and 13which engage the eyelet of the needle. This form of invention isparticularly wellsuited in connection with large-sine needles. Thisconstruction permits the ready attachment and removal of the device fromneedles. In Fig. 6 is shown the invention used in connection with theso-called self-threading needle. It can be seen that needles of thistype are provided with a slot so that the thread can, in effect, besprung into the eyelet. Obviously, the portion 4 of the wire may bepassed through this slot so as to effect the same result. 7

It can be seen that the present invention provides an attachment forneedles which permits the needles to be readily threaded and yet doesnot in any way hamper the sewing operation. Furthermore, according tothe present invention thread is retained within the twisted end portion7 of the attachment so that it will not become dislodged. This isparticularly useful when using present day nylon thread which slipsthrough the eyelets of needles. By providing twists adjacent theconnection of the attachment with a needle the wire is held by theneedle so as to prevent misalignment which would otherwise occur.

One of the primary advantages of the present invention is itsadaptability, for the presently disclosed attachment may be used withneedles of varying sizes and types. For example, the attachment may beused with darning needles and surgical needles. Furthermore, the twistsin the end portion of the attachment are adapted to clampingly engagethread, yarn, wire, cord, string, ribbon or surgical sutures. It is tobe understood that the word thread" as used herein is intended to coverany of the foregoing materials.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in the light of the above teachings. Instead of wire it ispossible that other materials, such as, for example, plastic may be usedin the construction of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described comprising a needle, a resilientwire forming an elong ted threading loop attached at one end thereof tosaid needle, the strands of the loop being twisted together at that endof the threading loop remote from the attachment to said needleproviding means for engaging and clamping thread within the twists ofthe end portion.

2. An improved sewing needle comprising, in combination, a needle havingan eyelet, a thin resilient member swivelly secured to said eyelet, saidmember being provided with an elongated threading collapsible loop, andthe strands of the loop being twisted together at that end portion ofthe loop remote from said eyelet for clampingly engaging thread withinthe twists of said end portion.

3. An improved sewing needle comprising, in combination, a needle havingan eyelet, a thin resilient member attached to said needle, said membercomprising an intermediate elongated loop, the strands of the loop beingtwisted together at the end portions thereof, one of said twisted endportions maintaining one end of said loop in engagement with the eyeletof said needle to prevent misalignment of said needle and said loop, theother twisted end portion providing means to clamp a thread disposedwithin the twists of the end portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS183,173 Jenkins Oct. 10, 1876 386,723 Smith July 23, 1888 1,293,660Armstrong Feb. 11, 1919 FOREIGN PATENTS 262,246 Great Britain Dec. 9,1926

